Lailatul Qadr and Mothers’ Day - Twin Sisters
of Mercy
May 4th
2021
by: Habeeb
Alli
It's been
a whirlwind of events during this Pandemic.
It's
Ramadan and Muslims are going crazy about the search for the Night that equals
a thousand months of worship. And rightly so, it's also that time of the year
when we buy flowers and send gifts to our mothers. Mother's Day – both days
falling on May 8th and 9th, respectively.
I wonder
if there is a connection between the Night of Power and Mothers' Day?
For this,
I thought there is a silver lining like the vaccine during the Pandemic.
For the
reader of this, the Night of Power in the Surah "Qadr" Quran Chapter
97 Verses 1-5 is the moment that God decrees one's life for the rest of the
year and it is believed to be on the 27th night of Ramadan. However,
it can be any time in the year or any one of the 10 last nights of Ramadan. When
people, who were eager to get rich in the game of spirituality, complained to
the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, (On Whom Be Peace) that their years are
shortened compared to those who lived for centuries before, in response, the
Chapter Qadr was revealed. It is an auspicious night of prayers called the
Night of Determination, or the Night of Power which is equivalent to one
thousand months (which is equivalent to 80 years) of blessings.
It seems
to me that the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may (God be pleased with her), actually
questioned her husband, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, what
should be her prayers if she finds out it is indeed the Night! Our Prophet, opined
that appealing for God's kindness and forgiveness was most crucial. "Oh
God, You Are Forgiving and Kind, You Love to Forgive, so kindly forgive me!"
is the refrain that is uttered all around the globe on this special night.
Now if
that wasn't an appeal to the motherly instincts of compassion, forgiveness and love,
then what is? God chose the Mother of the Believers, the young and passionate
Lady Aisha, may God be pleased with her, to reveal this priceless gem of worship,
embraced by billions throughout the centuries.
When we
celebrate and honor our mothers every day and with a grand remembrance on Mothers'
Day, we are instinctively responding to their kindness, generosity and
unconditional love for their children. This is their right upon us, so
beautifully articulated by the Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, that Paradise
lies "at the feet of Thy mother!"
So, this
weekend, when you are praying for forgiveness on Lailatul Qadr and buying flowers
for your beautiful Mom, or saying a prayer for her, alive or deceased, remember
that mercy is the common denominator here. God's mercy demonstrated in a mother's
love - something further demonstrated by your continued support of the Table of Mercy Foodbank this
Ramadan which has served hundreds of mothers and families and prayed with them during
this Pandemic. The Twin Sisters of Mercy seems to descend on us this weekend. Let's
take the opportunity to be part of the mercy this year!
